We are excited to welcome Jesse Pyles as our new Executive Director. Smokey House Center is not new to Jesse. His wife Laura was a crew leader with the Youthwork program in 2005. Back now with Laura and their two children, Addis and Hazel, Jesse is excited to develop new partnerships with local organizations that will help Smokey House Center continue to provide educational opportunities for local youth, connecting them with agriculture and the value of land stewardship for future generations.

Jesse was previously the Sustainability Director at Unity College in Maine and the Service-Learning & Sustainability Coordinator at Green Mountain College. He has also worked in environmental education programs in Vermont and his home state of West Virginia. Jesse earned a BA in environmental studies from Pace University, New York City, and an MS in environmental education from the Expedition Education Institute at Lesley University. Jesse is a Senior Fellow in the national Environmental Leadership Program.